Aglaonema plant named &#39;twyag0054&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new  Aglaonema  plant particularly distinguished by having a leafy, compact and very small growth habit, medium to dark green foliage with dark grey-green areas which follow the primary veins, foliage that is marked with small coalescing yellow-green spots and blotches, areas adjacent to the primary veins that are often marked with yellow-green, areas adjacent to the midrib are variably tinged with pink and the primary veins are flushed with pink, and light pink to white spathes, is disclosed.

GENUS AND SPECIES

Aglaonema hybrid

VARIETY DENOMINATION

‘TWYAG0054’

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of Aglaonema, botanically known as Aglaonema hybrid and hereinafter referred to by the variety name as ‘TWYA0054’. The new variety originated from an open pollination made in Bogor, West Java, Indonesia between unknown individual plants of Aglaonema (species unknown). The new variety was discovered as a single plant within the progeny of the stated open pollination in a controlled environment in Bogor, West Java, Indonesia.

The new variety was created in Bogor, West Java, Indonesia and has been asexually reproduced repeatedly by vegetative cuttings and tissue culture in Apopka, Fla. for two or more generations. The present invention has been found to retain its distinctive characteristics through successive asexual propagations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following are the most outstanding and distinguishing characteristics of the new variety when grown under normal horticultural practices in Apopka, Fla.

1. Medium to dark green foliage with dark grey-green areas which follow the primary veins;

2. Foliage that is marked with small coalescing yellow-green spots and blotches;

3. Areas adjacent to the primary veins are often marked with yellow-green;

4. Areas adjacent to the midrib are variably tinged with pink and the primary veins are flushed with pink;

5. Leafy, compact and very small in stature; and

6. Light pink to white spathes.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

This new Aglaonema plant is illustrated by the accompanying photograph which shows the overall plant habit. The colors shown are as true as can be reasonably obtained by conventional photographic procedures.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

The following detailed description sets forth the distinctive characteristics of ‘TWYAG0054’. The data which define these characteristics were collected from asexual reproductions carried out in Apopka, Fla. The plant history was taken on 12 month-old plants started from a single four-leaf rooted cutting, still in a vegetative state and grown in Apopka, Fla. Rooted cuttings were planted in 20-cm pots and grown in a greenhouse in October 2006. The plants were pinched once. Color readings were taken under natural light. Color references are primarily to the RHS Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society of London (RHS) (2001).

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

-   Classification:     -   -   Family.—Araceae.         -   Botanical.—Aglaonema hybrid.         -   Common.—Chinese Evergreen. -   Growth:     -   -   Form.—Symmetrical; new leaves are held upright and mature             leaves are held outward.         -   Growth and branching habit.—Leafy and compact; upright,             branched and very small in stature.         -   Height (from soil to top of leaf plane).—17 cm to 22 cm.         -   Diameter (area of spread, as measured from leaf tip to leaf             tip across the Canopy).—25 cm to 30 cm.         -   Growth rate.—Typical of commercial Aglaonema varieties.         -   Vigor.—Plants produce axillary branches and numerous leaves.         -   Time to produce a finished flowering plant.—About 12 months             starting from a single 4-leaf rooted cutting with the plants             pinched once in 10 cm to 20 cm pots.         -   Root description.—Abundant, fleshy and white with finer             lateral branches.         -   Number of divisions or clumps per year.—About six 4-leaf             cuttings per year.         -   Durability of foliage to stresses.—Foliage holds up well             against damage from shipping and handling; plants are             durable and have excellent indoor keeping quality.         -   High temperature tolerance.—About 104° F. for several hours             without damage.         -   Low temperature tolerance.—About 55° F. for several hours             without damage. -   Stems:     -   -   Number of branches per plant.—About 12.         -   Type of branching.—Basal.         -   Length (from soil line to junction of the newest two             leaves).—10 cm.         -   Diameter (measured at the midpoint).—0.80 cm.         -   Internode length.—0.8 cm to 1.2 cm.         -   Color.—Immature: RHS 155B and faintly tinged with RHS 145D             Mature: RHS 155B and tinged with RHS 145D and RHS 163D;             occasionally marked with streaks of RHS 137C Oldest stems:             RHS 163D and RHS 195D and occasionally marked with RHS 137C.         -   Shape and appearance.—Columnar, cylindrical and upright.         -   Aspect.—Vertical and upright.         -   Strength.—Sturdy and somewhat flexible.         -   Axillary buds.—Shape: Elliptic, flat to convex Length: 0.3             cm Width: 0.2 cm Color: RHS 56B to RHS 56D. -   Leaves:     -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate and simple; the leaves are arranged             in a spiral along the stem; the leaf blade folds upward             along the midrib.         -   Quantity of leaves per stem.—9.         -   Immature leaf (newly expanded leaf).—Color: Upper surface:             Base color is RHS 147A to RHS 146A with areas of RHS 189A             which follow the primary veins; the leaf blade is variably             marked with small RHS 144D coalescing spots and blotches;             areas adjacent to the primary veins and midrib are RHS 144D             and areas adjacent to the midrib are also variably tinged             with RHS 53B to RHS 53C Lower surface: Base color is RHS             147A and has an overall cast of RHS 50B to RHS 50C; the             upper surface patterns and markings are visible through to             the lower surface of the leaf; the leaf blade is marked with             small coalescing RHS 50B to RHS 50C spots; the areas             adjacent to the primary veins and midrib are RHS 50B to RHS             50C.         -   Mature leaf.—Color: Upper surface: Base color is RHS 147A to             RHS 147B with areas of RHS 189A which follow the primary             veins; the leaf blade is variably marked with small             coalescing RHS 144D to RHS 158A spots and blotches; the             areas adjacent to the primary veins and midrib are RHS 144D             to RHS 158A; the areas adjacent to the midrib are also             variably tinged with RHS 46D Lower surface: Base color is             RHS 147A and has an overall cast of RHS 181C and RHS 50C;             the upper surface patterns and markings are visible through             to the lower surface of the leaf; the leaf blade is marked             with small coalescing RHS 160D with RHS 50C to RHS 50D             spots; areas adjacent to the primary veins and the midrib             are RHS 50C.         -   Length.—7.9 cm to 9.5 cm.         -   Width.—Flattened: 4.9 cm to 6.0 cm Not flattened: 4.0 cm to             5.5 cm.         -   Shape.—Ovate.         -   Apex.—Acuminate to cuspidate.         -   Base.—Obtuse to slightly cordate.         -   Margin.—Smooth, entire and mostly flat with some broad             undulations.         -   Texture.—Smooth; new leaves are shiny while mature leaves             are glossy; the leaf blade is convex between the main veins             and somewhat puckered along the midrib resulting in a             textured appearance.         -   Pubescence.—Absent.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate and radiating outward from the             midrib in a herringbone arrangement.         -   Venation color.—Immature leaf (newly expanded leaf): Upper             surface: Primary veins: RHS 54B Midrib: RHS 53B to RHS 53C             Lower surface: Primary veins: RHS 50C Midrib: RHS 50C to RHS             50D Mature leaf: Upper surface: Primary veins: RHS 158A             tinged with RHS 54C Midrib: RHS 46A tinged with RHS 46D             Lower surface: Primary veins: RHS 50C Midrib: RHS 50D. -   Petioles:     -   -   Aspect.—Vertical and upright when newly expanded and             becoming curved outward to about 30 degrees to 45 degrees             with maturity.         -   Length.—5.0 cm.         -   Width (not flattened).—0.6 cm.         -   Diameter.—Distal: 0.22 cm Proximal (petiole and petiole             sheath clasps the stem proximally): Flattened: 2.2 cm Not             flattened: 0.80 cm.         -   Color.—Distal (between the top of the wing and the base of             the leaf): RHS 56A to RHS 56B and flushed with RHS 54B             Proximal: RHS 56C to RHS 56D Areas adjacent to the stem: RHS             56D. -   Wing:     -   -   Length.—4.4 cm.         -   Diameter.—Mid-point: 0.6 cm Base: 0.8 cm Depth: 0.5 cm.         -   Color.—Inside: RHS 56D and flushed with RHS 56A Outside: RHS             56C to RHS 56D at the proximal end and RHS 56D flushed with             RHS 54B at the distal end Area adjacent to the stem: RHS             56D. -   Cataphylls:     -   -   Length.—3.2 cm.         -   Width.—1.0 cm.         -   Shape.—Linear to lanceolate, keeled and translucent.         -   Texture.—Inner surface is smooth and shiny while outer             surface is glossy.         -   Apex.—Cuspidate.         -   Base.—Clasps the peduncle or stem.         -   Color.—RHS 155D at the proximal end, RHS 56C to RHS 56D at             the distal end and becoming RHS 54B near the apex. -   Inflorescence:     -   -   Appearance.—Hooded spathes surrounding a columnar spadix are             borne atop an upright peduncle; monoecious; the spadix is a             central column of sessile, simple male and female flowers             separated into two zones; the male flowers occupy the upper             two-thirds of the spadix while the female flowers occupy the             lower one-third of the spadix.         -   Quantity of inflorescences per stem.—About 1.         -   Quantity of inflorescences per plant.—About 2.         -   Aspect.—Upright.         -   Height (from base of peduncle to tip of spathe).—6.3 cm.         -   Diameter/width.—1.0 cm.         -   Flowering habit.—Seasonal; the natural flowering season is             summer and fall as observed in Apopka, Fla.; the flowers are             persistent.         -   Fragrance.—Absent.         -   Ratio of inflorescence to opening.—About 1 new flower every             21 days.         -   Peduncle.—Length: 3.6 cm Diameter: 0.28 cm Aspect: Upright             and curved Strength: Sturdy and flexible Color: Distal: RHS             158D tinged with RHS 56C Proximal: RHS 158D. -   Spathe:     -   -   Appearance.—Simple, hooded, cupped and enclosing the spadix.         -   Aspect.—Upright.         -   Shape.—Elliptic.         -   Apex.—Acute.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Texture.—Smooth and glossy.         -   Size.—Length: 3.3 cm Width: 1.0 cm (not flattened) and 2.5             cm (flattened).         -   Color (fully opened).—Front side: RHS 56D at the proximal             end and RHS 56A at the distal end Rear side: RHS N155B at             the proximal end and RHS 56B at the distal end. -   Spadix:     -   -   Appearance and shape.—Columnar.         -   Aspect.—Upright.         -   Size.—Length: 1.5 cm Diameter of the female zone: 0.55 cm             Diameter of the male zone: 0.4 cm Length of the female zone:             0.4 cm Length of the male zone: 0.11 cm.         -   Apex.—Obtuse.         -   Base.—Obtuse.         -   Margin.—Pebbled. -   Flowers:     -   -   Type.—Simple.         -   Quantity of female flowers per spadix.—12.         -   Quantity of male flowers per spadix.—90.         -   Shape of female.—Ovate.         -   Shape of male.—Obovate, inverted triangle.         -   Size.—Female width: 0.15 cm Male width: 0.10 cm Female             height: 0.15 cm Male height: 0.12 cm. -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Stigma color.—RHS 158D.         -   Ovary color.—RHS 144D.         -   Anther color.—RHS 158C. -   Fruit and seed set: None observed. -   Disease and insect resistance: Typical of Aglaonema species; no     particular susceptibility or resistance to pests or diseases noted.

COMPARISON WITH KNOWN VARIETIES

‘TWYAG0054’ differs from the commercial variety ‘TWYAG0003’ ) (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 17,673) in ‘TWYAG0054’ has a shorter and narrower growth habit than ‘TWYAG0003’. In addition, the leaves of ‘TWYAG0054’ are a different shade of green and have considerably fewer spots and blotches than the leaves of ‘TWYAG0003’. 

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Aglaonema plant as shown and described herein. 